Guidance

Tractors and regulatory requirements: a brief guide September 2017

Updated 8 September 2023

1. Overview and definitions

There are a number of different regulatory regimes that can apply to the use of tractors in Great Britain. The requirements for each of these are different and tractor operators should be aware of their legal obligations. This information sheet provides an overview of the main criteria and requirements for these regimes, particularly the different requirements when used for agriculture or other work. For more information, the regulations themselves or a knowledgeable trade association should be consulted.

The department applies the following definitions which are derived from other relevant legislation.

‘Tractor’ (or a ‘category T tractor’) is defined in EU Regulation 167/2013. It essentially covers vehicles that a layman would think of as a tractor, being a motor vehicle designed to ‘pull, push, carry and actuate’ equipment to perform agricultural or forestry work. Telescopic handlers (telehandlers) can also be type approved as tractors – the operator can check his specific machine by referring to the manufacturer’s information.

Other telehandlers, along with combine harvesters, crop sprayers and other agricultural machines fall into the wider definition of ‘agricultural motor vehicles’. This information sheet primarily concerns tractors as their use for a variety of different purposes creates the potential for most confusion on which regulations apply.

The activities that are considered ‘agricultural purposes’ are discussed in Excise Notice 75 (section 10). The definition includes activities for horticulture and forestry. This definition is relevant to each of the regulatory regimes below when deciding whether a vehicle is doing agricultural, horticulture or forestry work.

An ‘agricultural trailer’ is a trailer used only for agriculture, horticulture or forestry. A trailer that is also used for other purposes can be used for agricultural purposes but would, from a regulatory perspective, not be considered an agricultural trailer.

2. Speed limits

The majority of tractors may travel at up to 40 km/h (around 25 mph). However, some tractors built to higher specifications are permitted to be driven at up to 40 mph (around 65 km/h). The higher speed limit applies to tractors that have (among other requirements) all-wheel suspension, braking efficiency of 50%, pneumatic tyres, a speedometer and a horn. The exact requirements are contained in the Construction and Use Regulations 1986 (as amended).

Wider tractors (falling into the special type agricultural vehicle category) have lower speed limits:

• vehicles between 2.55 metres and 3.5 metres are limited to 20 mph (around 32 km/h)
• vehicles between 3.5 metres to 4.3 metres are limited to 12 mph (around 19 km/h)

Note that, as a general rule, vehicles wider than 3.0 metres must notify police of their journeys, and vehicles wider than 3.5 metres must also have attendants to escort the vehicle. It is sensible to check your tractor width as many ‘conventional’ but larger tractors may fall into the 20 mph speed bracket.

The width measurement includes tyres, including when added by the customer, and any towed implement or trailer. The exact requirements for special type agricultural vehicles can be found in The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 (as amended).

3. Driver licensing

Agricultural tractors require a category F licence to drive on the public road. Category B (car) licence holders automatically have category F entitlement. To drive track-laying vehicles, including tractors, on the public road requires the category H entitlement.

You can hold a category F licence from age 16. Sixteen-year-olds may only drive tractors up to 2.45 metres wide, and tow trailers up to 2.45 metres wide and with 2 wheels, or 4 close-coupled wheels. From age 17 these restrictions do not apply.

Category F licence only applies to tractors used primarily for agriculture or forestry. Therefore, if you wish to drive a tractor that is not used primarily for agriculture or forestry, you need to hold a goods vehicle licence. That is category C1E for combinations with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) up to 12 tonnes (8.25 tonnes if the licence was obtained before 1997) and CE for combinations with MAM over 7.5 tonnes (8.25 tonnes for pre-1997 licences).

Other, non-tractor agricultural motor vehicles require a category B licence, and you must also be over 21 years old to drive these.

Summary of minimum ages to drive agricultural vehicles:

• age 16 (via F category): tractors up to 2.45 metres wide, towing trailers up to 2.45 metres wide and with 2 wheels, or 4 close-coupled wheels
• age 17 to 20: all tractors, subject to holding relevant entitlement
• age 21 or over: all tractors and non-tractor agricultural motor vehicles, subject to holding relevant entitlement

3.1 Useful links

• Learning to drive a tractor or specialist vehicle
• The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999

4. Vehicle excise duty (VED)/vehicle registration

Tractor operators are required to re-license their vehicle every year. How the vehicle is used and constructed determines the tax class and the rate of VED to be paid. The most common tax classes for tractors are:

• agriculture: a tractor used on roads solely for the purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture, forestry (this tax class is currently zero-rated but the tractor must still be formally re-licensed every year)
  • the definition of ‘Agriculture’ is discussed in Section 10 of Excise Notice 75
  • should this not accurately describe a tractor, the owner may register it in the “general haulage” tax class
• general haulage: a vehicle constructed and used for hauling loads, where the vehicle itself does not carry the load (like a goods vehicles) or have the load superimposed on it (like an HGV tractor unit)

When registering their vehicle, operators are also required to declare whether their vehicle requires a roadworthiness test.

5. Roadworthiness testing

Tractors that are used solely for agriculture, horticulture or forestry (tractors eligible to be taxed in the agricultural tax class) are exempt from roadworthiness testing.

Tractors taxed in any other tax class (not agricultural) are required to hold a valid goods vehicle testing certificate if they:

• are capable by construction of exceeding 40 km/h (around 25 mph)
• are used to haul goods (of any description) more than 15 miles from their operating base (which is not necessarily where they are registered)

Note: this applies to tractors capable of exceeding 40 km/h, even if they are not permitted to exceed 40 km/h (see section 2). You should consult the manufacturer if you are not sure whether your tractor is capable of exceeding 40 km/h.

Tractor testing is part of the goods vehicle testing regime, operated by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Tractors requiring testing must have their first test 4 years after first registration, and a further test every 2 years after that. At test, tractors will be expected to meet the higher construction standards of tractors that may travel above 40 km/h (see section 2).

If a trailer is not used solely for an agricultural, horticulture or forestry purpose it is not exempt from goods vehicle testing, even if towed by a tractor (see part 1).

6. Drivers’ hours and tachographs

Some tractors, for example, if used for commercial non-agricultural haulage, may require use of a tachograph and have maximum limits on driving time and minimum requirements for breaks and rest periods, set out in EU drivers’ hours rules (Regulation (EC) 561/2006). Tractors require a tachograph if they are used to haul goods on the road, the maximum authorised mass exceeds 3.5 tonnes and they do not fit one (or more) of the available exemptions.

The 2 exemptions most likely to be relevant to tractors are:

• tractors not capable of exceeding 40 km/h (note that this does not relate to the permitted speed)
• tractors used for agricultural or forestry activities within 100 km (62.1 miles) of their base

Tractors that are exempt from EU rules are likely to be subject to GB domestic drivers’ hours rules unless you drive for less than 4 hours in a day or drive only off-road. Under these rules, drivers are limited to 10 hours maximum on-road daily driving. Off-road driving does not count towards this total if it is for agriculture or forestry. A record sheet, but not a tachograph, is required to be kept.

Drivers must ensure they are aware of the rules that apply to them. The EU drivers’ hours and tachograph rules are complex and we recommend consulting the available guidance if you think that they may apply to you:

• Drivers’ hours
• Drivers’ hours and tachographs: goods vehicles
• GB domestic rules

7. Operator licensing

You may need a goods vehicle operator’s licence if your business uses vehicles, including tractor and trailer combinations, with a maximum authorised mass above 3.5 tonnes, to move goods of any description unless an exemption applies. Licences can be either ‘standard’, to carry goods for ‘hire or reward’, or ‘restricted’ to carry only your own goods.

The most likely exemptions from operator licensing for tractor owners are if the tractor:

• is used solely for moving farming implements or articles (any distance), provided the tractor operator owns or is employed by the relevant farm
• is used to haul farm produce within 15 miles (24.14 km) of the farm or forestry estate (provided the tractor operator owns or is employed by the relevant farm)
• is only used on the road to pass between land owned by the tractor owner, up to a maximum of 6 miles per week

A full list of the exemptions from Operator Licensing can be found in Schedule 3 of The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995 (as amended).

If these exemptions don’t apply – for example, a tractor is used to move agricultural produce more than 15 miles from the farm or to haul non-agricultural goods – the tractor operator is likely to require an operator’s licence. The operator licensing regime is involved and we recommend consulting the available guidance if you think that it may apply to you.

8. Other matters

The weight limit for agricultural tractor and trailer combinations is 31 tonnes. The trailer itself is limited to 18.29 tonnes (including any load imposed on the tractor through the hitch).

Although many tractors do not require a roadworthiness test, all tractor owners must ensure their vehicle is roadworthy before using it on the public road. This is a legal requirement. In addition, general health and safety requirements apply when using a tractor off the road.

It is an offence to operate a vehicle without a valid goods vehicle operator’s licence if one is required. It is also an offence not to have a valid goods vehicle test certificate for the tractor or trailer if the vehicle requires a test.

When borrowing or hiring vehicles from others, you must ensure they are used in accordance with these rules, including having a roadworthiness test certificate or using red/white diesel as appropriate.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the policy on red diesel. It may be used for agriculture, horticulture and forestry work, as discussed in Excise Notice 75.

8.1 Warning beacons

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 require that any motor vehicle, used on an unrestricted dual-carriageway road, with 4 or more wheels that has a maximum speed of less than 25 mph must display at least one warning beacon on either the vehicle or its trailer.

The warning beacon must show amber light. It must either be mounted on the:

• vehicle, so that the centre of the lamp is at least 1,200mm above the ground
• trailer, so that it is visible from any point at a reasonable distance from the vehicle or the trailer

9. Legal information

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